Friday 17 August 2018

BELGIUM: KRC Bambrugge (±1951-2021) / Erpe-Mere United (2021-2022) / Erpe-Mere United (B) (2022-)

Complex Lindekouter, Bambrugge (B ground of Erpe-Mere United, formerly KRC Bambrugge & A ground of Erpe-Mere United)

Belgium, province: East-Flanders

15 VIII 2018 / RC Bambrugge - VV Horebeke 3-2 / East-Flanders, Provincial Cup R2

Timeline
  • 1949 / Foundation of Racing Club (RC) Bambrugge. Upon joining Belgium's Football Association, the club obtains matricule 5343. For the first two seasons of its existence, the club plays in a provisional league of new FA members.
  • 1951 / RC Bambrugge takes part in East Flanders' regular provincial league system for the first time, being placed at the lowest level of the pyramid at the time - Provincial League 3. Around this same time - though the exact year could not be confirmed (yet) -, the club moved into Complex Lindekouter. The address of RC Bambrugge's first ground is another question mark in this matter (anyone able to provide more information is welcome to get in touch with me).
  • 1972 / After 21 consecutive seasons in Provincial League 3, RC Bambrugge drops into East Flanders' Provincial League 4. In the following 18 seasons, the club alternates spells in P4 and P3.
  • 1990 / Having finished second in Provincial League 3D, RC Bambrugge wins the promotion play-offs to accede to Provincial League 2 for the first time in club history.
  • 1999 / Upon its 50th anniversary, RC Bambrugge acquires the royal epithet, thus becoming Koninklijke Racing Club (KRC) Bambrugge.
  • 2009 / After 19 consecutive years in Provincial League 2 - and having finished second in the previous two seasons -, KRC Bambrugge wins the title in P2B, thus managing promotion to Provincial League 1 for the first time in club history. In its first season in P1, the club does admirably well, ending in third place.
  • 2013 / After four seasons in P1, KRC Bambrugge finishes 14th, dropping back into P2.
  • 2016 / Having come close to winning promotion to P1 in the two previous years (finishing second on both occasions), KRC Bambrugge clinches the title in Provincial League 2B, thus finding its way back to P1 after a three-year absence. This time, the P1 adventure lasts no longer than one season, with relegation following in 2017.
  • 2018 / Clinching the title in P2B yet again, KRC Bambrugge manages a return to East Flanders' Provincial League 1.
  • 2020 / Finishing second in East Flanders' Provincial League 1 for the second time running, KRC Bambrugge wins the promotion play-offs and accedes to the national leagues for the first time in club history. Although the main pitch of Complex Lindekouter does not have the correct measurements for national league football, the club is given the customary single season's dispensation to bring matters in order.
  • 2021 / In its first season in VFV Division 3A, the fifth and lowest step of the national league pyramid - also its last season as an independent club -, KRC Bambrugge holds its own relatively comfortably, finishing sixth. After that season, the club concludes a merger agreement with provincial league side FC Mere (matricule 4057), forming Erpe-Mere United - retaining KRC Bambrugge's matricule 5343. For reasons which are unclear, Erpe-Mere United is allowed a second season of national league football at Complex Lindekouter in spite of the pitch measurements not having been adapted. 
  • 2022 / Finishing sixth in VFV Division 3A, Erpe-Mere United qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it surprisingly manages to defeat FC Esperanza Pelt (3-1) to accede to VFV Division 2. No longer allowed to play national league football at Complex Lindekouter, Erpe-Mere United moves its first team's matches to Gemeentelijk Domein Steenberg, a municipal pitch used for lower league football and training purposes since its construction in 2016. The club's stay at Domein Steenberg is intended as a temporary solution, as a project for a new stadium for the club - to be built on top of FC Mere's old ground at Sint-Bavoweg - has been unfolded. It remains to be seen if and when these plans will come to fruition. Although Complex Lindekouter is due to be demolished to make way for housing, the ground is expected to remain in use until the inauguration of the new, projected stadium in Mere.



















All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author

No comments:

Post a Comment